Rating: 
Summary: Priceless tale
Review: My daughter had me watch the movie, but I'm a book person so I had to pick up a copy! An enjoyable, easy read that added depth to the movie's storyline. Buy this book to explore Gilbert, Arnie, and the others from Endora Iowa further.
Rating:
Summary: Kirkus Reviews is wrong! A very moving character story
Review: Peter Hedges' novel reminds me a lot of Larry McMurtry's early writings, such as HORSEMAN, PASS BY and LAST PICTURE SHOW. Both authors write character-driven books with meandering, sometimes barely discernible plots. Yet, both are able to weave a cast of quirky characters, slapstick comedic moments, and old-fashion melodrama into satisfying, touching coming-of-age stories. Plus, Hedges' prose is cleaner, sharper, and funnier. I can't count the number of times I laughed out loud while reading this book. And the ending was, as one critic put it, "totally luminous". It's hard to explain without ruining the story: The characters do something that, logically, doesn't make much sense, but emotionally you know it was just the right ending--an ending that will lead the characters to a new beginning. I gave this book a five-star rating, with one caveat: If you like plot-driven stories, rather than character-driven, you may find this book drags in places. Finally, let me say one thing about the movie, which is about the only publicity this book has gotten. The film is good; it's worth seeing if just to see Leonardo DiCaprio's wonderful portrayal of Arnie, a young retarded boy. However, read the book first. The characters are much better developed, and lots of the great comedy scenes unfortunately had to be omitted from the film due to time constraints. In fact, the movie deals mostly with the last 75 pages of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Whatever you do, don't miss this book!
Review: So you've seen the movie, and right about now, you're thinking about what a wonderful job Leonardo Dicaprio did playing Arnie. But unless you've read the book, you can't really give the credit where it's due -- to the amazing author who created this character with his first ever book, one that hits the reader hard with an emotional story about small-town life. Why does What's Eating Gilbert Grape touch the reader as it does? Perhaps we'll never know. It is a simple story of a simple family, people living their lives almost entirely to get out of the small town where they have grown up. Surely this book speaks deeply to any person who has ever felt trapped by their past, their family, and any person who has strong ties to the people they love. Peter Hedges is the author I want to be. Somebody who can make the boring small-town life of his characters into a heroic story of faith and family, one of sadness and loyalty, one of inspiration. This story is so tremendously real that it jerks the reader into a sense of life so big that you can't escape it. Gilbert breaths life all around.
Rating:
Summary: Far From Perfect, But Not Quite Broken
Review: Take a trip to Endora, Iowa and spend some time with the Grapes. The Grapes are the local quirky family that everybody knows. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a novel written in clear prose that is chocked full of emotion. The novel is narrated by the skeptical and pessimistic Gilbert Grape. Gilbert is trapped in Endora by strong loyalty to his family. He is stuck in a going no where job and no relationship to speak of. Gilbert provides the lens into the lives of the Grapes; who they are, and how they arrived at this point in their lives. With great detail we meet the matron of the family, Bonnie Grape. Once the most beautiful woman in Endora, she has succombed to eating herself to enormous proportions. Amy, the caretaker of the family needs a husband and a life beyond Elvis and sevice to her family. We also meet Ellen, the prettiest and most egocentric girl in Endora. Finally, and probably the most charming and insightful Grape is Arnie, the miracle of the family. He is mentally challenged, and was not suppose to live to see his eighteenth birthday. The Grapes also include the ones that got away - older brother Larry and sister Janice. Aside from the Grapes, the cast of characters are also witty and add depth to the story. The Grape family are by all accounts odd and eccentric. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is centred around the Grape family as they anxiously plan the 18th birthday party of Arnie. This birthday party is more than just one occassion to celebrate, to each member the birthday party holds a different meaning. More than the story of family angst, Hedges sets out to have Gilbert discover himself. A story rich with humour and laced with hardship and pain, tells the story of many families, far from perfect, but not quite broken. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a novel that will remain long after the pages are closed.
Rating:
Summary: Anything but Disney
Review: This book by Mr Hedges manages to give the understanding reader the idea of hope observed distrustfully by the hopeless Gilbert Grape. Personal, familial, and even community-wide shame is borne upon our protagonist's shoulders. Watching him achingly let these things roll off of his shoulders is one of the joys in this book. The second is the joy in discovering another person who will always be beautiful, riding her bike in front of Gilbert's old rusty second-hand truck.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would care to give their life (or any other in that case) a closer look and appreciate the best of it.
Rating: 
Summary: Moving while Standing Still.
Review: This book by Mr Hedges manages to give the understanding reader the idea of hope observed distrustfully by the hopeless Gilbert Grape. Personal, familial, and even community-wide shame is borne upon our protagonist's shoulders. Watching him achingly let these things roll off of his shoulders is one of the joys in this book. The second is the joy in discovering another person who will always be beautiful, riding her bike in front of Gilbert's old rusty second-hand truck.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would care to give their life (or any other in that case) a closer look and appreciate the best of it.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favourite books ever!!
Review: This book is a lot better than the movie. Gilbert makes many sardonic comments that were completely disregarded by the screenwriters of the film, but are very much worth reading here. Fans of male "coming-of-age" stories will definitely want to add this to their list if they haven't read it already.
Rating:
Summary: very pleasant to read about a screwed up family
Review: This book is a very good novel by Peter Hedges. He really knows how to write. Gilbert is a kind-hearted person, but he seams to have a lot of hate for his family. Hedges really knows how to discribe a life of a person like Gilbert Grape. Nice work on this novel, Peter
Rating:
Summary: the best
Review: This book is so amazing. I mean gilbert gives and gives so much but doesnt bother to think of himself. the way that this family works is crazy but gilbert is the glue to it all. and after all the years of him not caring for himself, in the end he finally gets to be free.
Rating: 
Summary: INTERESTING
Review: This book is well-written but not really a "feel good" book. An interesting family with an interesting story and an interesting cast of characters.
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